Implanted RFID Tag To Replace Cash?

Kulic writes "Wired is running a story about using subdermal RFID microchips to pay for goods. Applied Digital Solutions are marketing the VeriChip as the world's only implantable ID technology. CEO Scott Silverman says they could someday replace credit cards, but a final product is a few years away. They are also receiving condemnation from some fundamentalist Christians who believe that this is the fabled 'mark of the beast' of biblical lore." waytoomuchcoffee adds a link to a similar story at CNet.

Comments

I'm conflicted....

[phillymjs]

I'm a firm believer that anything that sends those fucking Bible-thumping loonies into a tizzy is a good thing.

But I'm not crazy about the idea of being lojacked, because I can see the good old U.S. Government abusing such technology-- like making RFID implants mandatory for everyone, and sprinkling RFID readers all over the place, in every doorway, parking meter, fire hydrant, and other such everyday objects that people see so often they no longer even notice them.

~Philly

Re:There do exist some points of agreement

[ponxx]

> For example devout Christians hate murder, and devout Christians hate rape

Well, there appear to be lots of devout christians trying to apply the death penalty to as many people as possible... And i you have to invoke your christian faith to realise that rape is wrong, then there is something seriously wrong with you! Like, if it said in the bible rape was ok, would you do it???

Ponxx

Re:NOT RIGHT

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, the way things are going, it won't be long before you can go to the government and claim your whining, crybaby attitude as a disability. Then you'll be able to stay home weeping as the rest of us have the results of our productive work taken away and given to you.

"Total Wimp" seems to be an appropriate nick for you.

Re:...er, well, the usual things, dumbass

[the_mad_poster]

Boy, you ARE an idiot.

Look, kid. If you hang around long enough, you MIGHT find someone rolling up in a brand new DB7 Vanquish, but don't hold your breath. The BEST target for robbery is old people, you twit. They're far more likely to be carrying wads of cash you can jack. If you've got a scanner that can read the balances on people's chips though, you instantly know EXACTLY who has the most cash in a crowd of people and can act accordingly. And don't give me any security bullshit, either. No technology can ever be totally secure. And, funny, crime really brings out the best of the worst traits in people, so it WILL be broken by someone at some point.

I have to ask - are you a troll, or do you actually know so little about the real world that you believe you're not spouting shit out your mouth everytime you open it?

It's simpler than all that!

[mabhatter654]

Ideas like personal RFID tags get pushed because they make sense! Look at most of the financial headlines lately...9/11, Enron, worldcom, martha, RIAA, MPAA...They all involve individuals making poor choices...to the concequence of many other people who are just trying to earn a living.

The joke is that RIGHT NOW it's the hyper-conservatives that are doing all the damage! ...the very same people fearing the "666" of the beast. It's all about lack of personal responsibility...typically a Democrat thing, that nobody should be able to take advantage of anybody else [loan fraud, abusive work contracts...]...so we need more technology [i.e. govt] to "protect" people. Coupled with the recent attacks and financial screw ups even the other side [Reps] wants more govt control...more acountability, paperwork, sigs...get the idea...protect those corps... now they want ID so they can sneak around and find out what you were doing when nobody was looking.

Asia has these issues even more than the US...and accept it even more redily. Both America and Southeast asia have very busy, highly complex societies...and even "playful disruption" is becomming a "terrorist" act. The problem is that govt has gotten too big...and make too many stupid laws nobody can follow. meaning that the General Pouplation tolerates a certian amount of "lawlessness" because they've lost control of the govt [not enough people vote to matter]...it doesn't represent the people's interests anymore! Now the govt is interested in enforcing the law as "cheaply and effecently" as possible...it's not about right or wrong anymore, just "acceptable losses" [sounds like war, hun?] to look like they're doing their job. The govt is a company now...justice meeted out like fries a McD's. [with less personal accountability]

In all these cases, it makes more and more sense to normal people [most /.er are not normal people] to simply "make it so you can't" break the laws...or be wrongly accused... So we have to build a bigger, better "mouse trap". Look at all the hacks to the current round of technology...many normal people just want stuff to be easy and simple. even innocent hacking is "terrorist" to most people...you'd be suprised how many "normal" people think "internet programming" == "bank cracking" ...it's way more than you would think!

so in the end, for security and liberty, people will throw all their trust, and personal responsiblity, into the next big electronic system that the govt pushes. The govt has the ability to use guns to enforce it, so it will be MADE to work...get the idea. Who controls the govt...well, it's an irresponsible "beast" already isn't it? And there you have it. The only glimmer of sunshine right now is that the events are described after rapture...all those pesky "christian zelots" won't be here to bother you anymore...and it will be great...for about 3.5 years. People forget THAT fact when they read those prophesies...everything that happens in Revelation is the apogee of human ingunity and "wisdom" ...Without silly "religous" pressures. Until the whole thing goes to ....

Re:...er, well, the usual things, dumbass

[the_mad_poster]

Well looky there, I made a new friend.

You're not "using my logic", you're just not using ANY logic. First of all, you can't just put my face over yours and think it's going to work. This isn't Texas Chainsaw Massacre, we're back in the real world now, Leatherface.

Second, nobody I know of has a credit card with their face and I don't ever recall even seeing or hearing of such an option. That's what signatures are for. I suppose such a thing may exist and I've just somehow missed it in my thousands of credit card offers, but it's irrelevant because even if it does, it's OPTIONAL. Besides that, this is not an issue being discussed here, so stop stop pulling unrelated bullshit out of your ass. And, if you can't resist introducing unrelated topics, at least have the sense to make sure they're a little bit realistic before you do.

Third, YOU have A friend that drives a 200K pound car. Good for you! Funny thing about that is that your ONE friend doesn't define normality for the rest of the 6.5 billion people in the world.

Fourth, robbery and murder numbers are different and the fact that you're drawing some unbelievably assinine correlation between the two (especially with NO data on either of them) is truly a testament to how little content you've managed to add to this thread so far. If there are 20 robbers and 5 murderers, and only 4 of the robbers are willing to hurt or kill people to commit the robbery, that means there will be 0 robbers and 9 potential murderers. What sort of an IDIOT would give a person INCENTIVE to kill them to get their money? Your odds of being robbed go down, and your odds of being MURDERED go up. If YOU want to give people incentive to kill you for your money just fight back and leave the rest of us out of it. $20 in my wallet that I can just surrdender isn't worth a fight that could end my life, IMHO, but if you're miserable little pissant life is only worth 20 bucks to you, by all means - go crazy.